People's Daily Online, Tokyo, March 1 (Reporter Zhu Yueying) A delegation of six winners of the 20th Chinese Japanese Composition Contest hosted by the Japanese Overseas Chinese News Agency recently completed a week-long visit to Tokyo.

The delegation was composed of six winners, including Lin Fangfei of Dalian International Studies University, who won the Japanese Ambassador Award, and the first prize winners: Chi Hanlin of Renmin University of China, Ou Qianxu of Dalian International Studies University, Xu Siqi of Fudan University, Ma Yuepeng of Jilin University, and Lin Jing of Tianjin International Studies University. During their visit to Japan, they had in-depth exchanges with various sectors of Japanese society, showcasing the charm of Chinese youth in the new era.

Japanese Foreign Minister and Political Officer Akiko Ina praised the important role of the essay competition in promoting people to people exchanges between the two countries, and encouraged students to continue learning Japanese and contribute to the friendship between the two countries.

Subsequently, the Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, Lin Fang, met with the visiting delegation at the official residence. He congratulated the winners and inquired about their learning and career plans, encouraging them to fully utilize their language advantages and actively engage in the cause of friendship between the two countries. He stated that youth exchanges are crucial for the future of bilateral relations, and he hopes that students will cherish this opportunity to visit Japan, deepen their understanding of Japanese society, and become a bridge to promote friendship.

At the Second Members' Hall of the Japanese Diet, the organizers held a report and gratitude ceremony to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Japanese essay competition. Japanese House of Representatives member Tatsuo Fukuda, representing his father and former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, expressed long-term support for the essay competition and stated that he will continue to contribute to its development in the future. He reviewed his father's history of receiving award winners multiple times since 2008 and stated that he will continue to contribute to promoting friendship between the two countries.

Former Ambassador to China, Sakutaro Tanino, praised the persistence and contributions of the essay competition over the past 20 years at the meeting, believing that the competition has become a model of "promoting officials through the people" and played an important role in promoting people to people exchanges between the two countries. He praised the positive and upward spirit of contemporary Chinese youth, and encouraged them to continuously improve and become the backbone of the friendship between the two countries.

In addition, members of parliament such as Akira Kondo, Secretary General of the Japan China Friendship Parliamentary Alliance, and Hiroshi Kamiya, a former student of the House of Representatives in China, spoke out one after another. Six award winners also shared their insights and expressed their determination to contribute to the friendship between the two countries in the future.

The winners also came to the Japan China Friendship Association to have lunch and exchange ideas with the president of the association, Yuji Miyamoto. President Miyamoto shared his insights on "20 years of change and constancy" in fluent Chinese, emphasizing that promoting friendship between the two countries is an unwavering belief. He encourages young people to bravely face challenges and contribute their wisdom and strength to the bilateral relations.

The delegation also visited organizations such as Don Quixote (PPIH), Toshiba International Exchange Foundation, and Asahi Shimbun. Mr. Tetsuro Machang, the director of Don Quixote Company, warmly received the students and encouraged them to bravely pursue their dreams, becoming a bridge for commercial and cultural exchanges between the two countries. At Asahi Shimbun, President Shiro Nakamura encouraged students to continuously improve and play a greater role in promoting mutual understanding between Japan and China. Yuki Yamazaki, the executive director of Toshiba International Exchange Foundation, also expressed his hope that more participating students can participate in promoting Japan China exchanges in the future.

Duan Jingzi, the president of the Japan Overseas Chinese News Agency, stated that over the past 20 years, the organizers of the essay competition have overcome numerous difficulties, always adhered to their original intention, and continuously promoted people to people exchanges between China and Japan. This event has become an important platform for cultural exchanges between China and Japan, not only broadening the path of growth for young people, but also promoting mutual understanding and friendly exchanges between the two peoples. She emphasized that the Japan Overseas Chinese News Agency will continue to work together with all sectors of society to provide more opportunities for Chinese youth to showcase themselves and jointly write a new chapter of China Japan friendship.